Combined shipping and display cases



Filed March 28, 1957 March 1, 1960 2,926,777

F. A. MAGUIRE COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CASES 2 Sheets-Sheet l @M+Md March 1, 1960 F. A. MAGUIRE 2,926,777

COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CASES Filed March 28, 1957 l 2 sneeuw-sheety 2 INVENTOR. v

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MMR/V549 United States Patent() 2,926,777 COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CASES Application March 28, 1957, Serial No. 649,067 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-44) The present invention relates to paper board shipping cases and more particularly to a combined shipping and display case.

It is a common practice to provide a case for transporting merchandise `which may aslo be used to display the merchandise. Such display cases usually have an attractive linish with a colorful advertising display printed thereon. When such a display case is shipped in commerce, its iinish is apt to be scutfed or soiled rendering it useless as an attractive display. If the display case is enclosed within a separate shipping case, the latter may be used as a base for supporting the display case. However, when shipping cases of conventional construction are used as a supporting base they do not position the display case at the required height for maximum effectiveness.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a combined shipping and display case which will display the merchandise at a level to be noticed by prospective customers.

Another object is to provide a combined shipping and display case in which the outside shipping case may be used as a base for supporting the display case at a level above its closed top.

Another object is to provide a shipping case of the type indicated in which upper extensions of the continuous side walls are foldable to provide a closure and extendable to provide a seat for a display case adjacent their upper edges.

Still another object is to provide a combined shipping and display case which is of simple construction and adapted for economical manufacture.

In this specification and accompaning drawings I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention; but it is to be understood that the illustrated embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention. On the contrary, the drawing is for the `purpose of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the purpose thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, which may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a blank from which` f the outside shipping case is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the formed shipping case for enclosing a display case and showing the manner of folding upper extensions of its sides to provide a closure for the top of the case;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the upper extensions of the shipping case folded to closed position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the partially folded upper extensions illustrated in Fig. 2 and showing the bellows folds on two opposed sides and the flap folds on the other two sides;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the display case;

Fig. 6 is al perspective view of the shipping case with its closure flaps extended and formed to provide a base for supporting the display case; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing the display case supported on the shipping case.`

Referring to the drawings, the combined shipping and display case constituting the subject matter of the present invention comprises an outer container 8 adapted to enclose an inner container 9 in which the merchandise is packed. The outer container 8 constitutes a shipping case for the innercontainer 9 during shipment and the inner container constitutes a display case for the merchandise. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the display case 9 is adapted to closely fit the interior of the shipping case 8 and to be removed therefrom through its open top.

Display case 9,when removed, is adapted to be mounted on the top edges of the upwardly extended closure flaps of shipping case 8 to provide a display stand for the merchandise. The outer and inner containers 8 and 9 may be composed of paper board sheets such as corrugated paper and each has suitable advertising media printed thereon to provide an attractive finish and colors.

As shown in Fig. 1, the outer shipping: container 8 is made from a blank 10 of corrugated paper or the like and scored to provide spaced vertical fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 and horizontal fold lines 15 and 16. The vertical fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the horizontal fold lines 15 and 16 divide the blank into adjacent side panels 17, 18, 19, 20 and a lap 21 projecting from the edge of panel 20. Blank 10 is cut along the vertical lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 from its lower edge to the transverse fold line 16 to form separate closure flaps 22, 23, 24 and 25 extending from the lower ends of panels 17, 18, 19 and 20, respectively. The vertical fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 above the horizontal fold line 15 form integral extensions 17a, 18a, 19a and 20a of the side panels 17, 18, 19 and 20 connected to each other throughout the length of the blank.

Extensions 17a and 19a are scored horizontally below the upper edge of the blank to provide seat flanges 26 and 27 foldable inwardly on the lines 28 and 29. Adjacent extensions 17a, 18a, 19a and 20a are scored obliquely from each intersection of the horizontal fold lines 28 and 29 andvertical fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 to provide right angular fold lines 30 and 31 at each end of the seat flanges 26 and 27 to adapt the fianges to be folded. Extensions 17a and 19a also are cut to form inverted U-shaped retaining anges 32 and 33 projecting upwardly from the horizontal fold lines 28 and 29 and located centrally between vertical fold lines.

The other two extensions 18a and 20a .are scored to provide fold lines 34 and 35 extending toward each other from the intersection of the vertical fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 with horizontal 34 and 35 extend obliquely to an apex at the upper edge of the blank 10. The fold lines 34 and 35 adapt the extensions 18a and 20a to be folded upwardly toward each other to form a bellows fold in which the tiiangul-ar wings 36 and 37 fold over the central triangular portion 38 of the extension.

Shipping case 8 is made from the blank 10 by folding each panel 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the blank at right angles to its adjacent panels on the vertical fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14. Lap 21 is folded to overlie the side of panel 17 to which it is glued with a suitable adhesive. The folded blank 10 then forms a tube of rectangular cross section. The bottom of the shipping case 8 is closed by folding the opposed closure ilaps 22 and 24 inwardly toward each other and then folding the closure flaps 23 and 25 inwardly toward each other to overlap the closure fold line 15. Fold lines flaps 22 and 24. The overlapping closure flaps 22, 24 and 23, 25 are glued to each other to form the closed bottom. Display case 9 in which the merchandise is packed may then be inserted into the shipping case 8 through its open top.

The top of the shipping case 8 is closed by pressing the central triangular portions 38 of the extensions 18a and 20a inwardly toward each other. The extensions 18a and 20a then fold Von the oblique fold lines 34 and 35 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. Such inward folding of the central triangular portions 38 cause the triangular wing portions 36 and 37 to foldV over the central portions. This, in turn, draws the opposite rectangular extensions 17a and 19a inwardly toward each other to overlie the bellows fold in the extension 18a and 20a. Thus, continuous foldinggof the extensions from the posi tion illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 3 closes the top of the shipping case 8. The closed top may be sealed by applying an adhesive strip 39 along the seam and over the abutting edges of the rectangular extensions 17a and 19a.

The display case 9 is formed from a suitable blank in a manner similar to the outer shipping case`8 and the formed case, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, has a front wall 40, a rear wall 41 and opposite side walls 42 and 43. Opposite side walls 42 and 43 project upwardly beyond the top edge of the front wall 40 and each side wall has two ilap extensions 44 and 45. r[he rearward flap extensions 45 are folded inwardly and downwardly on a horizontal fold line at the level of the upper edge of the rear wall 41 while the ap extensions 44 are folded inwardly and downwardly on fold lines inclined forwardly from the forward edge of the flap extensions 45 to the top edge of the lower front wall.

A ap extension also projects from the upper edge of the front wall which is folded downwardly at 46, see Fig. 7, rearwardly and then upwardly to provide a display shelf 47 between the front and rearwalls 40 and 41 andthe opposite side walls 42 and 43. Underlying the display shelf 4-7 are egg crate type spacers 48 and 49 providing separate cells 50 in which merchandise such as bottles, boxes or the like are adapted to be packed. Spacers 48 provide a support for the display shelf 47. In addition to the merchandise packed in the cells 50, merchandise also is packed on the display shelf 47 and held in place thereon by the upper ends of the front and rear walls 40, 41 and the side walls 43 and 44 projecting upwardly above shelf 47. When the display case 9 is enclosed in the shipping case 8 the mechandise on the display shelf will be held tightly in position by the folded closure extensions 'fa, 18a, 19a and 20a. To facilitate handling of the display case 9, the side walls 32 and 43 and the folded flap extensions 45 have aligned holes 51 forming hand grips at each side.

When the merchandise is to be shipped the display case 9 with the mechandise packed therein is inserted in theouter shipping case 8 which it closely ts and the extensions 17a, 18a, 19a and 20a are folded in the man-A ner illustrated in Fig. 2 to the closed position illustrated in Fig. 3 and sealed by a tape 39 or the like. After the combined shipping and display case has been delivered' to the customer and it is desired to display the merchandise, the sealing tape 39 is cut along the seam between thel abutting ends of the folded extensions 17al and 19a. Extensions i'a, la, 19a and 20a lthen are folded to their initial upright extended position in alignment with the side walls i7, l, 19 and 2th, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Display case 9 with the merchandise packed therein thentmay be removed bodily through the open top of the shipping case S.

The horizontal portions at the upper edges of the ex-v tensions 18a and 19a are then folded inwardly toward each other on thefold lines ZSYand 29 to form horizontal seat flanges 26, and 27 as shown in Fig. 6. The right angplar fold lines30and31vat eachendoftbe ange.

portions 26 and 27 permit them to fold inwardly and hold them in a horizontal position. The retaining tabs 32 and 33 formed by the cuts in the extensions 17a and 19a remain standing to provide retaining flanges at the crease lines 28 and 29 on these two sides. The upwardly projecting ends of extensions 18a and 20a also provide retaining flanges 52 and 53 on these two sides.

The display case 9 is then lifted onto the display stand 8 as show in Fig. 7 so that it is supported on the inwardly folded seats 26 and 27 and retained in position by the upright retaining tabs 32 and 33 and retaining flanges 52 and 53. The merchandise is supported on the display shelf 47 in view of prospective customers. It will be understood that the attractive finish and appropriate advertising will call the customers attention to the merchandise.

The top closure construction of the outer shipping case 8, comprising the integral connection of extensions 17a, 18a, 19a and 20a and side panels 17, 18, 19 and 20, give the extensions sufficient strength to support the display case. Thus, the shipping case 8 when converted to a display stand is adapted to Vsupport the display case 9 at a higher level than the height of the closed shipping case. This is an especially desirable feature in such a combined shipping and display case as it displays the mechandise at a higher level in the line of view of customers passing by the display stand than is possible with shipping cases of conventional construction.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein shown and described it will be understood that modifications rnay be made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in this respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A combined shipping and display case comprising an outer container having a closed bottom, opposed sides and integral closure extensions projecting upwardly from the opposed sides and connected to each other at their adjacent side edges, an inner container enclosed in and closely fitting the interior of the outer container, said inner container having merchandise packed therein and an open top for displaying the merchandise, said extensions of the outer container being foldable on horizontal crease lines, two of said extensions being folded on oblique crease lines to provide bellows folds and the other two extensions being folded inwardly toward each other to overlie the bellows folds to close the top and means on two opposed extensions of the outer container forming seats adjacent their upper edges and above the horizontal crease lines for mounting the inner contain' er whereby the inner container may be supported on the closed bottom of the outer container for enclosure therein during shipment and on the seats adjacent the upper edges of the opposed extensions to display the merchandise at a high level.

2. A blank for a combined shipping case and display stand comprising a rectangular sheet scored on longitudinal lines to provide four adjacent panels and a connecting lap, the lower marginal portion of said blank having slits aligned with the folding scores to provide closure flaps, a transverse score line extending throughout the width of the blank below its top edge to provide foldable extensions above each panel, two alternate extensions having score lines extending from the intersections Vof the longitudinal and transverse score lines to the upper edge of the blank, the other alternate pair of extensions each having a transverse score line adjacent the top parallel to the transverse score line extending throughout the width of the blank and oblique score lines extending from the intersections of the last named score line with the longitudinal score lines across adja- Celli .extensions to the upper edge of the blank.

(References on following page) References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Betts Sept. 29, Sandor June 1, Richards Feb. 7, Parrott ..1 Oct. 10,

6 Hughes n Oct. 25, 1938 Weiss Oct. 31, 1939 Whitehead July 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 24, 1933 Great Britain ...1..-- Dec. 30, 1936 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lCERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTIN Patent No,l 2,926,7'?? March l, 1960 Frederick A.,V Maguire It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 3, for "assignor to Gibraltar Corrugated Paper Company, Ine. of North Bergen, New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey, fread assigner,` by mesne assignments, to Mead Containers, Ine.. of Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, line l2,- for nGibraltar Corrugated Paper Company,` Ine. its suecessors'f read Mead Containers, Inc. its successors -13 in the heading to the printed specification, lines 3, 4, and 5, for l"assignor to Gibraltar Corrugated yPaper Company ,l` Inc. North Bergen, N. J. a corporation of New Jersey" read assigner, by mesne assignments, to Mead Containers, Ine, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation oi' Ohio n Signed and sealed this 30th day of August 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

